ARS | Publication request: Identification of genes in Puccinia striiformis and use of gene-specific PCR primers to differentiate rust species, formae speciales, and isolates

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 15, 2006
Publication Date: July 1, 2007
Citation: Wang, M.N., Ling, P., Chen, X. 2007. Identification of genes in Puccinia striiformis and use of gene-specific PCR primers to differentiate rust species, formae speciales, and isolates. American Phytopathological Society Abstracts, San Diego, CA, 7/28-8/2/07, 97:S171.

Technical Abstract: Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis (P. s.), is an important disease on wheat, barley, and grasses. To study functional genomics, we have constructed a full-length cDNA library from urediniospores of P. s. f. sp. tritici. Of 196 sequenced cDNA clones, 37.8% had significant homology to the sequences of genes with characterized functions, 16.8% had significant homology to hypothetical proteins, 19.4% had some homology with genes, and 26.0% did not have significant homology with any sequences in other fungi. A total of 51 different protein products were identified and they are involved in growth, defense, and virulence/infection. In order to develop specific primers to differentiate rust species, formae speciales, and isolates, 28 gene-specific primer pairs were designed based on sequences of some of the identified genes. Using these primers, we have identified polymorphic markers to distinguish P. s. from P. graminis, P. triticina, and P. hordei, and markers to separate P. s. f. sp. tritici from P. s. f. sp. hordei, P. s. f. sp. poae, and P. s. f. sp. dactylidis. We also identified primers to detect polymorphisms among isolates of P. s. f. sp. tritici.